RTE widescreen switching

scart

Can anyone tell me why my picture gets narrower when RTE broadcasts in widescreen?

I have a 28" Philips widescreen TV(model#28PW6518) and receive RTE through analogue terrestrial. Aspect ratio on TV is set to widescreen 16:9, but when RTE transmits any of its programmes in widescreen mode the picture automatically narrows and switches to zoom 14:9 mode. Very annoying!

Any help would be appreciated.

rlogue

Here's what happens - right now you have your TV set to show 16:9 pictures by default. Given that your source is RTE analogue you will then have squashed pictures. RTE currently send a flag to your TV that switches your TV to Zoom 14:9 when a widescreen programme or ad is broadcast.

Because you're used to squash-a-vision everything seems narrower - that's because they are - but in fact the proportion of the picture is actually correct.

Now if you want *real* widescreen from RTE the only way you can do this is to either subscribe to Sky or NTL digital cable.

scart

thanks for the reply rlogue.

I have seen other widescreen TV's(non Philips) that receive RTE on the terrestrial network and the screen does not have squashed pictures and wonder if there any setting I can change on my TV to stop this happening?

Rick_

Unfortunatly, there is no way of stopping this on a Philips TV. No matter what picture setting you currently have on, it will automatically switch to 14:9 if the broadcaster is sending out a 14:9 switch signal. Annoying, but send an e-mail to RTÉ and see what they think...

Paddy

scart

Is this problem specific to Philips TV's or do all brand widescreens behave in the same way?

ffocused

If it bothers you that much, you could watch RTE through your VCR or DVDR. My Philips ws does not switch to 14:9 on the DVDR, but does with its own tuner.

Skyuser

You could swith your tv back to widescreen after rte change it to 14:9, most tv's can do that, my philips can anyway.

Telefís

You mean switch it back to 4:3 as it should be right?